Railway signaling



Feb. 12, 1929.

. 1,701,702 L. SPRAY RAILWAY SIGNALING Filed Oct. 29. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 12, 1929.

. 1,701,702 L. E. SPRAY RAILWAY SIGNALING Filed Oct. 29, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I69 INVENTORZ L.E.-S or-4/,

Patented Feb. 12 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER E. SPRAY, F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR' TO THE UNIONSWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNALING.

' Application filed October 29, 1926. Serial No. 144,936.

My invention relates to railway signaling, and particularly to signalingfor the control of trafiic along intersecting tracks.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 1 are views which, when placedend to end in the order named constitute a diagrammatic view showing oneform of apparatus embodying my invention. a

Referring to the drawings, the reference characters A and B designatetwo intersecting railway tracks along each of which traffic moves inboth directions. The track A is provided with a main track section D-Eextending in opposite directions from the pointoi intersection, and withtwo approach sections C-D and EF located at opposite ends respectivelyof the main section. The track B is provided with a main section X-Y.extending in opposite directions from the point of intersection, andwith two approach sections WX and Y-Z located at the opposite endsrespectively of the main section Each track section is provided with atrack circuit comprising a source of current connected across the railsat one end and a track relay connected across the railslat the otherend. As here shown, the source of current for each section is atransformer 3, the secondary of which is connected with the track railsand the primary of which is constantly supplied with alternating currentfrom a source not illustrated in the drawing. The track relay for eachsection is designated bythe reference character R with two exponentscorresponding to the two limits of the associated section.

Track A is provided with two signals S and S located at points D and Erespectively, and governingtrafic in opposite directions along thistrack through the section D--'E, that is, across the intersection of thetwo tracks. Track B is similarly provided with two signals S and Slocated at the points X and Y respectively, and governing traffic inopposite directions through the section X- Y, that is, across theintersection of the two tracks. Located in the section D E is a switch Hwhich is normally set for traffic along the track A, but'which may bereversed to permit traffic troma siding Q, into the track A or viceversa. 'When switch 151' is reversed, traffic from the track Q intotrack A is governed by a signal 8 and traflic from track A into thesiding Q is governed by a signal S All parts of the apparatus except thetrack transformers are supplied with current from a pair of line wires Kand O, which wires are connected with a generator M.

The signals for track A are provided with a signal repeating relay J thecircuit 'for which is from line wire K through wires 21 and 22, contactbon signal S contact4 on signal 8 wire 23, contact 10 on signal contact12 on signal S wire 24, winding of relay J and wire 25 toline wire 0. Itwill be seen that this relay isclosed only when all four of the signalsassociated with track A are at stop.

The signals associated with track B are provided with a signal repeatingrelay'J the circuit for which is from line wire K, through wires 21 and22, contact 9 on signal S wire 26, contact 14: on signal S wire 27,winding of relay J and wire 25 to line wire 0. It will be seen thatrelay J can be closed only when both of the signals for track B are atstop.

The switch H is provided with a repeating relay R the circuit for whichis'ffroin line wire K, through wires 21 and 22, normally op en contactoperated by switch H, wire 28, winding otrela-yR and wire 25 to linewire 0. Contact 20, is closed when'switch His rc-; versed, at which timethe repeating relay R becomes closed.

Track A is provided with a tratfic relay G which is normally open. Thisrelay is provided with a circuit which passes from line wire K, throughwire 29, back contact of track relay B wire 31. winding of relay G4,wire 82, frontcontact 30 of relay E wire 3 back contact of a relay G andwire 36 to line wire 0. It will be seen, therefore, that relayG willbecome closed when a train on track A enters the approach section C- D.This relay will also becoineclosed when a train on track A enters theapproach section E-F, the circuit then being from line wire K,through'wires 37 and 38, back contact 89 of track relay R wires 40, ll,4-2 and 43, to the winding of relay G and i then through the same pathas beforeto the linewire 0. Relay G is also closed when a trainoc'cupiessection XYfo't track B, the

ciicuit then being from line wire K, through wire 44, back contact 45 oftrack relay R wires 16, 42 and 13, to the winding of relay G and thenthrough the same path as before to line wire O. Traffic relay G willalso be which passes from line wire K, through wires 4:9 and 50, backcontact 51 of track relay Pt wires 52 and 53, front contact 5 1 of relayG wires 55 and 48 to the winding of relay G", and then through the samepath as before to line wireO. Another stick circuit is provided fortraffic relay G which is closed if a train on track B enters theapproach section YZ, this stick circuit being from line wire 1:, throughwires 56 and 57, back contact 58 of trackrelay R wires 59 and 53. frontcontact 54 of relay G wires 55 and as, to the winding of relay G andthen through the same path as before to line wire 0.

It will be noted that each of the circuits for traflic relay G includesa back contact 35 traffic relay G and front contact 33 of track relay RThis back contact may be shunted when necessary, by a manually operabletime release L When this time release is operated it closes a contact61, whereupon the circuits for relay G pass from the winding of thisrelay through wire 82, frontcontact 83 of track relay 11%, wire 60,contact 61 of time release L and wire 62, to line wire O.

Traffic relay G is provided with a. circuit which is closed when a trainon track B enters the approach sect-ion 'WX, this circuit being fromline wire K, through wires and 68, back contact 6 1 of track relay Rwires 65 and 66, winding of relay G wire 67, front contact 68 of trackrelay R wires 69 and 70, back contact 71 of traffic relay G and wire 72to line wire 0. Trafiic relay G is also provided with a circuit whichbecomes closed when a train on track B enters the approach section YZ,this circuit being from line wire K, through wires 56 and 73, backcontact 7 1 of track relay R wires 7 5 and 66 to the winding of relay Gand then as before line wire 0. When the main section D-E of main trackA is occupied, relay G is closed by virtue of a circuit which passesfrom line wire K, through wire 7 6, back contact 7 7 of track relay Rand wire 66 to the winding of relay G and then as before to line wire 0.lVhen trafiic relay G is closed and a train on track A enters theapproach section C5D, a stick circuit is closed for relay G whichcircuit passes from line wire K, through wires 21 and 22, normallyclosed contact 15 of'switch H, wire 78, back contact 79 of track relay Rwires 80 and 81, front contact 82 of relay G wire 83, to the winding ofrelay G and then through the same path as before, to the line wire 0. Itwill be seen that this stick circuit is closed only if switch H is inthe normal posi-' tion. Similarly, when traffic relay G is closed and atrain on track A enters the approach section E'F, a stick circuit forrelay G becomes closed, which stick circuit is from line wire K throughwires 21 and 22, normally closed switch-operated contact 15, wires 78and 8 1, back contact 85 of track relay R wires 86 and 81, front contact82 of relay G wire 83 to the winding of relay G and then through thesame path as before to line wire 0- It will be noted that each ofthecircuits for trafiic relay G includes a back contact 71 of trafiicrelay G and front contact 68 of track relay R This back contact may beshunted when necessary by a manually operable time release L having anormally open contact 88 which becomes closed when the time releaseisoperated. The circuits for relay G then pass from the winding of thisrelay through wire 67, contact 68 of track relay R wires 69 and 87,contact 88 of time release L and wire 89 to line wire 0.

' When a train on track A enters approach section C-D, it will clearsignal S assuming that there are no other trains in the track sectionsshown in the drawing. The circuit for this signal is then from line wireK, through wire 90, contact 11 on signal S contact 18 on signal S wire91, front contact 92 of trailic relay G9, wire 93, back contact at oftraffic relay G wires 95 and 96, back contact 97 of track relay R wires98 and 99, front contact 100 of track relay 1 wire 101, front cont-act102 of track relay R wire 103, front contact 10st of track relay R wire105, front contact 106 of signal repeater J wire 107, normally closedcontact 108 of time release L ,wire 109, normally closed contact 16 onswitch H, wire 110, operating 1nechanism of signal S and wires 111 and112 to line wire O. I

If switchH is reversed, switch repeatingrelay R will be closed,switclnoperated con tact 16 will be open, and switch-operated contact 19will be closed. The closing of relay R will close a branch around theback colitact 97 of track relay R in the circuit just traced, whichbranch is from wire 95, through wire 113, front contact 11 1 of relay Rand wire 115 to wire 99. Furthermore, the circuit instead of includingsignal S will include signal S thisportion of the circuit be ing fromwire 109 through switch-operated contact 19, wire 116, the operatingmechanism of signal S and wires 117 and 112 to line wire O. It followsthat with switch H in the reverse position, si nal S, will be clearedeven though track relay R is not opened by a train in section CD.

When a train on track A enters the zip- 'proach section E-F, signal Swill be cleared if switch H is in the normal position, the circuit forthis signal being from line wire K,through wires 21 and 118, contact 7of signal S contact 6 on signal S wire 119, normally closed contact 120of time'release L wire 121, front contact 122 of traffic relay G wire123, back contact 124 of trafiic relay G wire 125, back contact 126 oftrack relay R F, wire 127, front contact 128 of track relay R Wvire 129,wire 130, front contact 131 of track relay R wire 132, wire 133, frontcontact 134 of track relay R Wire 135, front contact 136 of signalrepeater relay J wire 137, normally closed contact 17 of switch H, wire138, operating mechanism of signal S and wire 139 to line wire 0. If

switch H is reversed, switch repeating relay It will be closed and frontcontact 131 of track relay R will then be shunted by front contact 143of relay R the path through the latter contact being from wire 129,through wire 144, front contact 143, and wire 142 to wire 133.Furthermore, switch-operated contact 17 will be open and contact 18 willbe closed, so that the signal S will be cleared instead of signal S thecircuit passing fromwire 137, through contact 18, wire 140, operatingmechanism of signal S and wires 141 and 139 to line wire 0.

The circuit for signal S is from line wire K, through wire 145, contact146 on signal Si", wire 147, normally closed contact'148 of time releaseL wire 149, front contact 150 of traiiic relay G wire 151, back contact152 of traffic relay G wire 153, back contact 154 of track relay R- wire155, front contact 156 of track relay R Wire 157, front contact 158 oftrack relay R wire 159, front contact 160 of track relay R wire 161,front contact 162 of signal repeaterrelay J wire 163, operatingmechanism of signal S and wires 164 and 112 to line wire 0.

The circuit for signalS is from line wire K, through wires 21 and 22,contact 8 on sig nal S wire 165, front contact 166 of traflic relay Gwire 167, back contact 168 of traiiic relay G wire 169, back contact 170 of track relay R wire 171, front contact 172 of track relay R wire 173, front contact 174 of track relay R wire 175, front contact 176 oftrack relay R wire 177, front contac" 17 8 of signal repeater relay Jwire 179, normally closed contact 180 of time release L wire 181,operating mechanism of nal S", and wire 182 to line wire O. v

' The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Assuming that a train on track A moving toward the right enters theapproach section CD, and that there is no other train in. any of thesections shown in the drawing, the opening of track relay R willclose atcontact30 the circuit for traiiic relay G which reL y will thereforebecome closed. If-switch H is in the normal position and both of thesignals for track B. are at stop, as well as the signals at point E ontrack A, the circuit for signal S will be completed atthe contacts ofrelays R and relay G so that this signal will move to the proceedposition. Whe'n'the train enters section DF, the opening of track relay11% will open the circuit for signal S sothat this signal will return tothe stop position. The opening of track relay R will also open atcontactiil the circuit for relay G so that this relay will again open,and relay G will then close because its circuit is completed at the backcontact 77 of relay R and also at back contact.

71 of relay G As the train enters section EF, the opening of track relayR will close the stick circuit for relay G so that this relay willremain closed and will prevent relayG from closing andso will preventsignal S from being moved to the clear position in the rear of thereceding train. I

Assuming now that when the train enters section G T), there a trainatany point between and Y proceeding toward the right on track B, relayG will remain open until the'train on track B starts into section XY atwhich time trackrelay R will open and so signal S will not be cleared.

. The normal operation during thepassage of a ti in. along track B willbe understood from the foregoing without detailed explanation. If thetrain is moving toward the right, relay G will close as soon as thetrain enters section VV--X whereupon signal S will clear. When the trainenters section X Y, relay G will open and relay G will close, therebypreventing signal S from clearing when the train occupies section Y"". Areverse operation will occur if the train is moving toward the left.

1 will assume that while there are no trains inthe sections shown in thedrawing:switch H is reversed. This will causerelay R to close, and theclosing of relay R will in turn cause rel: f G to close. Signal S willthen 11101 210 the clear position to permit a train to pass from thesiding Q, into the main track A. If, however, the approach section E-Fis occupied at the time that switch H is reversed, signal S will rema nat stop and signal S will move to the clear position because its-circuitis completed the back contact of track relay 13%, and so the train mayproceed from track A into the siding Q.

Relay (i is preferably a quick releasing relay and relay G aslow-releasing relay. The purpose of this is to prevent thepossibilityof both of these relays starting to close at the same time if two of thetrack relays for the approach sections on the two tracks respectively,such as relays R and R should close their back contacts at ex act ly thesame instant. Anotherireason for the slow-releasing characterist oofrelay G is to prevent both relays G and G from closing at the same timewhen power is restored to the transmission line K-O after having failed.

The purpose of the time releases L and L is to permit the signals on onetrack to be set at stop and the signals on the other track to be clearedin the event oi? an emergency. For example, in case a train on track Ashould break down while occupying the approach section CD, it may bedesirable to clear the signals on track B to permittrain movements onthe latter track across the intersection. To do this, time release L isoperated to reverse the position of its con tacts, thereby closing thecircuit for trallic relay G when a train is on one of the approachsections of track B so that signal or S will move to the clear positionaccording as the train on track B is approaching from the left or theright. These time releases are preferably constructed without the usuallatch, thereby permitting each release to be closed quickly and toreturn to its nor mal position in a prer etermined interval of time.This means that the release L, for example, can be quickly operated toput the signals for route A at stop, and then will require aconsiderable period of time to return the release to such position thatone nal or the other for route B can be cleared.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatusembo lying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a normally opentratiic relay for each track, means operating when a train ap proachesthe intersection on either track to close the associated trailic relay,means for preventing either tratlic relay from closing it the othertraflic relay is closed, stick circuit for each traiiic relay closedwhen the r lay is closed and a train on the other track is approachingthe intersection, and signals for said tracks cont-rolled by saidtratlic rclays.

2. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a normally opentraiiic relay for each track, means operating when a train approachesthe intersection on either track to close the associated tratlic relay,means for preventing either tratlic relay from closing it the othertratlic relay is closed, a manually operable slow acting device for eachrelay for permitting the relay to close when the other relay is closed,and signals for said tracks controlled by said relays.

3. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a normally opentratlic relay for each track,.means operating when a train approachesthe intersection on either track to close the associated trafiic relay,means vfor preventing either traiiic relay from closing it the othertraiiic relay is closed, two signals for each track for governingtraffic in opposite directions on said track across the intersection,and means for clearing each signal when a train approaches the signalprovided the traiiic relay for the track occupied by the train is;closed and the tratlic relay for the other track is op l. lncombination, two intersecting railway tracks, a normally open tratlicrelay for each track. means operatingwhen a train approaches theintersection on either track to clr'u. the associated trailic relay,means for venting either tratllc relay from closing it the other trallicrelay is closed, two signals for each track for governing traiiic inoppodirections. on said track across the intersection, and means forclearing each signal when a train approaches the signal provided thetraiiic relay for the track occupied by the train is closed and thetratlic relay for the at 101' track is open, and the two signals for thesaid other track are at stop.

In combination, two intersecting rail way tracks, a normally opentrafiic relay for each track, means operating when a train ap preaches-ithe intersection on either track to ssociated trafi'c relay, means forpi ier tratlic relay from closing if the no relay is closed, two signalsfor each track for governing trailic in opposite directions on saidtrack across the intersection, and means for clearing each signal when atrain approaches the signal provided the t: aaic relay for the trackoccupied by the train is closed and the tratlic relay for the othertrack is open, and the track occupied by the train is clear to a pointbeyond the intersection.

6; In 'con'ibination, two intersecting railway tracks, a main sectionfor each track extending in opposite directions from the point oiintersection, an approach section for each track at each one ot the mainsectioma normally open trailic relay for each track, means opera-tinewhen a train moving toward the intersection enters an approach sectionto close the associated tratfic relay provided the other traiiic relayis open, and signals for said tr cks controlled by said trattic relays.

7. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a main sectionfor-each track extending in opposite directions from the point oiintersection, an approach section for each track at each end of the mainsection, a normally open trathc relay for each track, means operatingwhen a train moving toward the intersection enters an approach sectionto close the associated trailic relay provided the othertra'llic relayis open, a stick circuit for each trafiic relay closed when the relay isclosed and a train on the other track enters one of the approachsections, and signals for said tracks controlled by said traffic relays.

8. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a main section foreach track cxtending in opposite directions from the point ofintersection, an a1 )proach section for each track at each end of themain section, a normally open traffic relay for each track, meansoperating when a train moving toward the intersection enters an approachsection to close the associated traffic relay provided the other trafficrelay is open, and provided the main section of the track occupied bythe train is clear, and signals for said tracks controlied by saidtraffic relays,

9. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks,'a main section foreach track extending in opposite directions from the point ofintersection, an approach section for each track at each end of the mainsection, a normally open traffic relay for each track, means operatingwhen a train moving toward the intersection enters an approach sectionto close the associated traffic relay provided the other traffic relayis open, two signals for each track for governing traffic in oppositedirections through the main sect-ion of such track, and means forclearing each signal when a. train approaches the signal provided thetrafic relay for the track occupied by the train is closed and the othertraffic relay is open.

10. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a main section foreach track extending in opposite directions from the point ofintersection, an approach section for each track at each end of the mainsection, a normally open traffic relayfor each track, means operatingwhen a train moving toward the intersection enters an approach sectionto close the associated traffic relay provided the other traffic relayis open, two signals for each track for governing traffic in oppositedirections through the main section of such track, and means forclearing each signal provided the traffic relay for the track occupiedby the train is closed and the other traffic relay is open, and the twosignals for the other track are at stop.

11. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a main section foreach track extending in opposite directions from the point ofintersection, an approach section for each track at each end of the mainsection, a normally open traffic relay for each track, means operatingwhen a train moving toward the intel-section enters an approach sectionto close the associated. traffic relay provided the other traffic relayis open, two signals for each track for governing traffic in oppositedirections through themain section of such track, and means for clearingeach signal when a train approaches the signal provided the trafficrelay for the track occupied by the train is closed and the othertraffic relay is open, and provided the main section of the trackoccupied by the train is free.

12. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a main section foreach track extending in opposite directions from the point ofintersection, an approach section for each track at each end of the mainsection, a normally opentrafhc relay for each track, means operatingwhen a train moving toward the intersection enters an approach sectionto close the associated traffic relay provided the other traffic relayis open, two signals for each track for governing trafiicin oppositedirections through the main section of such track, and means forclearing each signal when a train approaches the signal provided the t'affic relay for the track occupied by the train is closed and the othertraffic relay is open, and provided the two signals for the other trackare at stop and the main section of the track occupied by the train isfree;

13. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a main section foreach track extending in opposite directions from the point ofintersection, an approach section for each track at each end of the mainsection, a switch in the main section of the first track, a normallyopen traffic relay for each track, means operating when a t ain movingtoward the intersection enters an approach section to close theassociated traffic relay provided the other traffic relay is open, andthe main section of the track occupied by the train is free, means forclosing the traffic relay for the first track when said switch isreversed provided the main section of the first track is free, andsignals for said tracks controlled by said relays.

14. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a normally opentraffic relay for each. track, one of which relays requires more timethan the other to close its front contacts after energization, meansoperating when a train approaches the intersection on either track toclose the associated traffic relay, means for preventing either trafficrelay from closing it the other traffic relay is closed, and'signals forsaid tracks controlled by said traffic relays.

15. In combination, two intersecting railway tracks, a main section foreach track extending in opposite directions from the point ofintersection, an approach section for each track, a normallyopen trafficrelay for each rack, means operating when a train moving toward theintersection enters the approach section to close the associated trafficrelay provided the other traffic relay is open, and signals for saidtracks controlled by said traffic relays.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LESTER E. SPRAY.

